Family databases, although highly useful, do not replace first documents. They are a secondary origin to aid track the corresponding entries. However, reliable investigation always requires reaching into the first records in the archives.
Modern genealogy is increasingly based on databases available online. These are projects prepared by enthusiasts or institutions (e.g. household associations) where simplified or prescribed information from baptism, marriage, death and many another papers is collected. However, it is very frequently attributed to these bases the position of "sources" in the conventional sense. Meanwhile, it is worth remembering that only the first entry in the metric or another authoritative paper is the first source.
Databases – whether they supply indexes, summaries or processed paper fragments – are secondary sources. Yes, they will aid find a lead and save quite a few time, but they should not be the only foundation of our research.
Why are genealogy databases just a tool?
In genealogical databases, errors can naturally occur: typos, ambiguous translations or incorrectly interpreted names. Secondly, key details visible only in the first act can escape. In addition, what kind of metric origin has been indexed? Rescription or Prescription? This is highly crucial due to the fact that both documents, although they should in rule contain the same information, may differ. And just to get to the index document, we won't get to any further information. erstwhile we focus solely on information from the database, we hazard reproducing individual else's oversight.
Entry from Geneticswhere there is no parental data
The first letter of birth, accompanied by a link in the entry in Genetece and which was the basis for indexation. There's no evidence of the deceased's parents.
The first evidence of the birth certificate in the Archives of the Archdiocese of Częstochowa, which contains the data of the parents of the deceased, is the key to further researchSo let us treat the bases as an excellent “list of clues”that shortens the search in the archives. After uncovering an interesting position, we should always look at the original. Only it will uncover the full context and let to verify the veracity of the data.
What do we gain by checking the documents?
- Certainty – seeing the 19th century parish priest's own entry or the clerk's signature, we have direct contact with historical material, not with its summary.
- Details – the first papers sometimes contain comments on social status, household ties or the witness concerned, and this information is mostly not entered in databases. And that's the full problem of household research.
- Authenticity – each genealogist will admit that self-reading the old metric gives exceptional satisfaction and allows to avoid errors that could creep in during the studies.
Watch out for “sources from the Internet”
You can frequently hear, “I found it in the database, that is, it must be true.” Unfortunately, it happens that customers who come to me talk about "sources", although they are based exclusively on data collected by abroad persons who have been entered into 1 of respective popular sites for the construction of a household tree. They never reached the origin to confirm the information.
One interesting example is the situation in which respective twelve treesgenealogical there was a profile of the wanted ancestor. The wife said yes, and the kids did. He was a farmer from Wielkopolska. but according to information, he was born in Lithuania, died in Paris. I reached the death certificate. He was a colonel of the Polish Army. Indeed, he has had his last days of emigration in Paris, but the only thing connecting him to a wanted ancestor is his first name. individual erstwhile stated that the peasants from Wielkopolska and Colonel of the Polish Army were the same person. He wrote this data into the service, others copied it, and so the story of a military ancestor grew.
Summary
Family databases are a large tool that opens fresh perspectives and helps save time. However, we must not forget that this is just a "map" leading to the goal, not the "terrestrial" itself. If we want to base our work on a truly solid foundation, we should always look at the first books and records. Only then will our household arrangements be reliable and based on the fullest possible information.
And for all those indexing large thanks for their tireless work, without which many discoveries could not be made!
